Zabaleta: 'We expect big changes' at Manchester City

Manchester City's popular stalwart Pablo Zabaleta appreciates there will be "big changes" at the club upon the summer arrival of Pep Guardiola, and they could include his exit after eight years in sky blue.

The Guardian's Jamie Jackson claims that the Argentinian is among six players whose futures are under review at the end of the season. Yaya Toure, right-back rival Bacary Sagna, Fernandinho, Jesus Navas, and Willy Caballero make up the hexad whose contracts all expire at the end of the 2016-17 season.

"I have just one more year on my contract here and we'll see what happens at the end of the season," Zabaleta said. "We expect big changes at the club with a new manager coming in."

The 31-year-old's knee issues this season were the first significant injuries in his career, and they allowed Sagna to steal ahead of him in the pecking order on the right-hand side of Manuel Pellegrini's back four.

"Bacary has been outstanding this season, I'm so glad for him because he's a great lad, a great player," Zabaleta continued. "Also he's given me a chance to have some rest thinking about the future."

Guardiola is rumoured to be interested in bringing as many as eight new players to the Etihad Stadium after his arrival, with four predicted to fulfill defensive roles.

Manchester City travels to relegation-threatened Newcastle United in Tuesday's Premier League ties.